EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Jim Smith |

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Our company’s founder, Jim has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. He began SouthwestRe in 1985, by establishing a nationwide reinsurance program offering limited capitalization Producer-Owned Reinsurance Companies (PORCs), as well as third party administration of reinsurance and direct insurance products. A nationally known reinsurance expert, Jim has an extensive background in insurance accounting, taxation and administration, and is a frequent speaker for insurance and automotive industry-related organizations throughout the country.

Eddie Eckert |

PRESIDENT

Eddie has been an executive with SouthwestRe for over 13 years. Overall, he possesses over 40 years of senior-level experience in the insurance industry, including accounting, operations and administration. He has also provided consulting services to third-party administrators on product development and marketing. Prior to SouthwestRe, Eddie served as Executive Vice President of Marketing for Mid/America Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Primerica, and held other senior marketing positions in wholly owned Primerica subsidiaries. A Dallas-area resident, Eddie and his wife Betsy have been married for over 30 years. They enjoy traveling and doting on their three grandchildren.

Bill Bigley |

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Bill joined SouthwestRe in 2013, bringing more than 30 years’ experience in financial management to the company. He started his career in public accounting, and has held executive level positions in insurance, coal mining and transportation industries. In the mid-1980s, Bill began managing producer owned reinsurance companies and has continually expanded his knowledge of the financial and contractual aspects of these companies. He has spent over 25 years in the insurance industry, specifically in automotive F&I services organizations. A native of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Bill has a BS in accounting from Fairleigh Dickenson University. He and his wife Jeannie have been married for 26 years. In his spare time, he enjoys bicycling, skiing and traveling.

Gabe Galaviz |

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Gabe has more than 20 years of experience with call center applications and systems and claims adjudication for autos, motorcycles, RVs, boats, and personal watercraft. He has served 12 years as Senior Claims Manager and seven years as Vice President of Claims for major service contract administrators. His significant accomplishments include guiding development of in-house claims administration software, implementing training curricula and procedure manuals for a start-up operation, as well as implementing call monitoring and computer and phone systems. Gabe has been an automotive technician for 25 years, is ASE certified, and has completed General Motors Automotive Diagnostics Training. He is also an active member of the Call Center Networking Group of America.

GENERAL COUNSEL

David May |

GENERAL COUNSEL

David boasts over 30 years of legal experience in the Service Contract, Financial Services and Insurance industries. His legal career started with ITT Consumer Finance, where he started as staff counsel in 1984, and eventually became assistant General Counsel with Citigroup until 1991. From 1991 until 2001, he was General Counsel of Voyager Insurance Group, a carrier specializing in credit and auto insurance. After that, he assumed further duties at Voyager and was named Chief Marketing Officer of its Consumer Finance Division. From 2001 through 2005, he was the General Counsel for Precis, Inc., a publicly traded health savings company and health insurance agency. He then joined Warrantech Corporation as their General Counsel and stayed there until joining SouthwestRe in 2010. David spends his off-work time taking long walks with his two collies and makes weekly attempts to play golf and improve his handicap.

SALES & MARKETING

Carmen Torres | VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING

Carmen has been with the company for 14 years. She has served in roles ranging from Reinsurance Company Administrator to her newest role as Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Her industry experience includes administrative management and oversight of captive reinsurance companies, reinsurance treaty administration, account management, and agency administration. Carmen studied Economics at the University of New Mexico, and holds an AA in Business Administration. Her professional designations include Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI), and Associate, Reinsurance Administration (ARA) from the Life Office Management Association. She is licensed for Life, Accident & Health Insurance in the state of New Mexico, and has the authority to do insurance business in 30+ other states. Beyond her role in the organization, Carmen is involved in the Young Leaders Society and Women in Philanthropy through the United Way.

Scott Craigmile | VICEPRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING

Scott has over 30 years of experience in the automotive and reinsurance industries, including six years as a dealer. Prior to SouthwestRe, Scott held a leadership role at The Ryan Group, where he worked his way up from Account Specialist to Senior Vice President of the company. Scott has also been a Managing Partner of Premier Motorcars in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a Managing Partner and President of CRW Leadership and Management, LLC, a worldwide trainer of managers and leaders.

Company Milestones from 1985-Today:

SouthwestRe is founded in 1985
by Jim Smith

We became one of the first companies to reinsure Dealer Obligor business into a PORC

We accurately anticipated adoption of Administrator Obligor (AO) legislation and developed our own AO program